Birmingham locals have hit out at comments made by Conservatives MP Paul Scully, after highlighting two "no-go areas" in London and Birmingham.
The former government minister triggered another Islamophobia row within the Conservative Party after making reference to parts of the two cities with high Muslim populations.
In an interview with BBC London, Scully named Tower Hamlets and Spark Hill as two "no-go areas" as people within them are "abusing their religion".
He said: "If you look at parts of Tower Hamlets where there are no-go areas, parts of Birmingham, Spark Hill, mainly because of doctrine, mainly because of people using, abusing in many ways, their religion to… because it is not the doctrine of Islam, to espouse what some of these people are saying."
Birmingham residents react to Paul Scully's 'no-go' comments
GB News
Speaking to Martin Daubney on GB News, Scully apologised for his comments and claimed he "regrets not using the right language" in the interview.
He added: "There are areas around every city in the country, frankly, which people are worried about going to, whether it's often based around gangs or a handful of idiots, that are threatening or intimidating.
"I regret using the word no-go areas. I can walk around a lot of London without fear and and enjoy what this greatest city in the world has to offer. What I said today, I hope is going to actually pull us back into a sensible debate."
Speaking to GB News reporter Will Hollis, locals in Spark Hill responded to Scully's comments and gave a mixed reaction of their experiences living in Spark Hill.
Paul Scully MP has said he 'regrets' his comments on London and Birmingham's 'no-go' areas
GB News
One resident told GB News: "I can't say the community name, but it is very, very hard to live for the English people, especially for English people and the Hindus of our Indian community.
"It is not safe for them because they give such bad remarks and they think that is not England, we are living in somewhere in Saudi Arabia. They want everything from this country, but they don't think that they are like everybody. So that is a problem."
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When asked if he believes the comments made by Scully are Islamophobic, the resident said: "Whenever we speak the truth, one community will say you are a racist.
"If somebody talked about Englishmen, they will say you are racist, but the truth is truth. You can't avoid the truth. You can't say that this is not true.
"If you want to put your head in the sand and think there is nothing going wrong, it is not good for the people of England. People must know what is going on."
Another resident of Spark Hill defended the area and denied that it can be "intimidating" for visitors, stating: "Everyone here is friendly, they're welcoming, it's lively. People will ask you how your day is and how you are, everyone is just so welcoming."
Birmingham residents told GB News that the 'truth is the truth'
GB News
A third resident said Scully's comments are a "lie", fuming: "It's a lie. I've lived here for three years, I've had no trouble at all.
"It's fine, honestly. It is best place I think in Birmingham, honestly."